Dynamic insertion of content items into resources

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. Publisher input is received regarding acceptable content item types and sizes for inclusion with other content in a publication. Publisher input is received regarding how often content items are to appear in the publication. Identification is received of a user device that will render the publication as an article. The other content is evaluated including formatting the article as a single scrolling page, including defining logical pages with boundaries determined by formatted content blocks and based on display capabilities of the user device. Based on the evaluating, content items are selected for presentation along with the other content when presenting the article on the user device, including dynamically determining a number, types and placement of content items based on the logical pages and properties of the user device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, publisher input regarding acceptable content item types and sizes for inclusion along with other content in a particular publication; 
 receiving, by the one or more processors, publisher input regarding how often content items are to appear in the particular publication; 
 receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication of a user device that will render the particular publication; 
 evaluating, by the one or more processors, the other content based on a particular format, the particular format having one or more logical pages with boundaries (i) determined by formatted content blocks and (ii) based on display capabilities of the user device; and 
 based on the evaluating, selecting one or more content items for presentation along with the other content when presenting the particular publication, including dynamically determining a number of content items, one or more types of content items, and one or more placements of content items. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing the selected one or more content items for presentation along with the other content on the user device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the acceptable content types include full-page content items, banner content items, or a predetermined size of rectangle content items. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the full-page content items include plural different-sized items including items sized for mobile telephones or tablet devices when configured in portrait or landscape orientation. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the publisher input regarding how often content items are to appear includes publisher input for how many content items are to be included per publication and how often content items should be included with a given publication, and wherein the how often is less than once every publication. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the evaluating includes formatting the particular publication as a single vertically scrolling page. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the evaluating includes determining that a count of the one or more logical pages is less than a first threshold, and wherein the evaluating includes determining that the number of content items should be only 1 and that the content item should be placed at an end of the other content on a last page of the particular publication. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the evaluating includes determining that a count of the one or more logical pages is more than a predetermined first minimum number, wherein the method further comprises determining a size associated with a display of the user device, and wherein the selecting includes:
 when the determined size is less than a predetermined threshold, selecting content items that are full-width, and when the determined size is greater than the predetermined size, selecting content items that are less than full-width. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein when selecting content items that are less than full-width the method further comprises dynamically determining a placement of the content items including locating the content items in different positions on pages of the particular publication. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the different positions alternate on consecutive pages where content items are shown. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein dynamically determining a placement includes shifting horizontally or vertically each content item placement on respective pages depending on a formatting or type of content that surrounds the content item. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the evaluating includes determining that a count of the one or more logical pages is more than a predetermined second minimum number, and the method further comprises selecting an interstitial content item based on a size and aspect ratio of a display associated with the user device to optimally match the user device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein dynamically determining the type of content items further includes determining only one type of content item per article. 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive publisher input regarding acceptable content item types and sizes for inclusion along with other content in a particular publication; 
 receive publisher input regarding how often content items are to appear in the particular publication; 
 receive an identification of a user device that will render the particular publication; 
 evaluate the other content based on a particular format, the particular format having one or more logical pages with boundaries (i) determined by formatted content blocks and (ii) based on display capabilities of the user device; and 
 based on the evaluating, select one or more content items for presentation along with the other content when presenting the particular publication, including dynamically determining a number of content items, one or more types of content items, and one or more placements of content items. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 14  further including instructions to provide the selected one or more content items for presentation along with the other content on the user device. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein the acceptable content types include full-page content items, banner content items, or a predetermined size of rectangle content items. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the full-page content items include plural different-sized items including items sized for mobile telephones or tablet devices when configured in portrait or landscape orientation. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein the publisher input regarding how often content items are to appear includes publisher input for how many content items are to be included per publication and how often content items should be included with a given publication, and wherein the how often is less than once every publication. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein the evaluating includes formatting the particular publication as a single vertically scrolling page. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the evaluating includes determining that a count of the one or more logical pages is less than a first threshold, and wherein the evaluating includes determining that the number of content items should be only 1 and that the content item should be placed at an end of the other content on a last page of the particular publication.